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News of the vineyard

161st Hospices de Beaune Charity Wine Sale

28/09/2021

161st Hospices de Beaune Wine Sale on Sunday 21 November 2021, Halles de Beaune

Details Revealed About the 2021 Vintage and the Nominated Charities to Benefit from the Sale of the President’s Barrel.

BEAUNE, 28 September 2021 – The Hospices de Beaune auction has earned a reputation as the most historic and important annual wine auction in the world, synonymous with the intimate links between the worlds of charity and auctions. In keeping with its founding values, all proceeds from the annual auction continue to go to support the cost of medical care and upkeep of the organisation’s hospitals in the South Côte d’Or territory in France. Representing the pinnacle of the calendar in Bourgogne, the Hospices auction not only raises important funds to be invested in the medical equipment and the modernisation of the hospital institution, but also for service and care of the local community.

In addition, the proceeds for one particular barrel, the Pièce du President, are donated by the Hospices de Beaune to a specially nominated charity every year. The Hospices Civils de Beaune has revealed that proceeds from the sale of the Pièce du Président at the forthcoming 161st Hospices de Beaune wine sale will benefit two associations dedicated to women’s causes. In partnership with Sotheby’s, this year’s sale, to be held on Sunday 21 November 2021, will present for auction the 2021 vintages produced from the 60-hectare estate, providing a unique opportunity both to acquire superb Burgundy wines and to contribute to one of the world’s truly historic charitable institutions.

• François Poher, Director and Chairman of the Board of Hospices Civils de Beaune, said:

"The uniqueness of our hospital institution lies in the importance of its heritage. The Hospices de Beaune wine estate was built up over the course of history through donations of the best Burgundy appellations (60 hectares), the production of which is auctioned every year on the third Sunday in November as part of the world's most famous charity sale. This is a historic wine estate that knows how to adapt to change.

The sale of the Hospices de Beaune wines enables the necessary investments to be made to meet the health needs of the region, namely the improvement of medical equipment and the modernisation of our hospitals. The completion of the reconstruction of the Philippe le Bon Hospital represents an investment of 70 million euros over the next six years.

With the arrival of Sotheby's, the sale of Hospices de Beaune wines opens a new chapter in its history. This new collaboration will respect the foundations and secular heritage of our prestigious institution while contributing to the reputation of the Hospices Civils de Beaune and its wines throughout the world. This is the opportunity facing Sotheby's, the prestigious and
experienced auction house that will coordinate and promote the sale of Hospices de Beaune wines for the next five years.

While the profits from the entire sale support the charitable work of the Hospices, there is one barrel each year where the proceeds are donated to another charity. The Pièce du President or Charity Piece barrel from the 161st Hospices de Beaune wine auction will be donated to two associations that work in favour of women. This is an unquestionable choice for us, given the importance of the social and public health issues at stake, which have been part of our history since Guigone de Salins.

Each of us considers that we are the most important person here, that way of thinking is human nature. I am delighted to say that for the Hospices Civils de Beaune the most important people are the young women or men recruited today to become tomorrow’s doctors, nurses or care assistants – they are our future.”

• Mario Tavella, President of Sotheby’s France and Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, said:

"Our entire global team, from Europe to Asia and the Americas, is galvanized in support of this sale, ready and eager to draw even wider attention both to the important work of the Hospices and the exceptional quality of the wines. There is no greater honour for us all than to host the most famous and oldest wine auction in the world, and I can think of no better way of marking Sotheby’s official launch of wine and spirits sales in France."

• Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, said:

"As the oldest charity auction, as well as the most famous wine auction, in the world, the Hospices de Beaune sale brings unique challenges. The fact that we have been given the opportunity to work together is a testament to what we have done in the past and our team is working hard to bring what we do best to this auction. We feel a great responsibility to everyone who has an interest in the success of the sale, to tell new audiences what is happening, why it is happening, why it is important and how easy it is to participate – and, through this process, to bring in new buyers to Beaune."

• Ludivine Griveau, winemaker of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune, said:

"The 2021 vintage began with a climatic anomaly that started at the end of March when temperatures were abnormally high for the season and this led to a veritable explosion in growth. It continued with the extreme frost at the beginning of April over three successive nights."

All this was followed by the pressure of strict health measures, which is when Ludivine confirmed: "a war of nerves was declared".

"The estate managed to overcome these climatic difficulties and these health regulations while respecting its approach, without the use of any synthetic chemical products, thanks to two of its mainstays. The first is the strength of its organisation: 23 winemakers who are committed, united and quick to respond, and the second is linked to the history of the estate's vineyards, which are mainly located on hillsides, making them easily accessible in the event of capricious weather.
It is time for the harvest, with modest quantities, but the quality of the juice and grapes is very reassuring."

Hospices Civils de Beaune

• The history of the Hospices Civils de Beaune began in 1443 with the wish of Nicolas Rolin and Guigone de Salins to build a hospital: the Hôtel-Dieu. The founders’ charitable endeavour and act of patronage instituted a tradition that has allowed the Hospices de Beaune to flourish throughout history under exceptional conditions. Today, the Hospices Civils de Beaune includes the hospital centres of Beaune, Arnay-le-Duc, Seurre and Nuits-St-Georges. The Philippe Le Bon Hospital in Beaune is the support establishment of the Groupement Hospitalier de Territoire du Sud Côte-d'Or.
• The uniqueness of this hospital institution lies in the importance and the nature of its patrimony, which consists on the one hand of a historical monument, the 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu, which no longer accommodates patients or elderly residents since the beginning of the 1980s; and on the other hand of a prestigious vineyard in Beaune of 60 hectares of the best Burgundy appellations. All of these vineyards come from bequests and donations, and their production is sold each year at auction on the third Sunday of November, as part of the most famous charity sale in the world. Thus, through its heritage, this hospital institution plays a leading role in the two major activities of Beaune and its region: tourism and wine.
• The auction, which can include more than 500 lots, is the most famous and oldest charity wine auction in the world (established in 1859). In keeping with its founding values, each year the Hospices de Beaune supports a charity by donating the profits from the sale of a pièce of wine, known as the "President's Pièce". The proceeds from the sale of the wines are used to maintain the hospital’s heritage and to modernise its equipment and buildings.

About Sotheby’s Wine

• Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access, connoisseurship and preservation of fine art and rare objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 50 categories, which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Interiors, among many others.
• Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits totaled an outstanding million in 2020, with over 15,000 lots sold across 41 sales – a nearly 50% increase in the number of auctions held in 2019. Over million of wine and spirits were sold to online bidders in 2020 versus million in 2019, with 85% of all lots offered finding online buyers. Demonstrating continued strength in Asia, Sotheby’s led the market in the region for the third consecutive year, with over 70% of the total bid amount in all Wine and Spirits sales attributed to collectors in Asia.
• Sotheby’s Wine’s has had the privilege of auctioning numerous record-breaking wines and spirits in recent years, with 2020 alone witnessing new world auction records for any bottle of Japanese whisky, any bottle of whisky produced by the Dalmore Distillery, as well as any bottle of Cognac. Sotheby’s Wine currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold at auction.
• In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

PRESS & COMUNICATION CONTACTS

HOSPICES CIVILS DE BEAUNE
Estelle Bidault - Attachée de presse vente des vins - Hospices Civils de Beaune
estelle.bidault@ch-beaune.fr - +33(0)6 73 91 77 79
Juliette Mezzavilla – Chargée de communication - Hospices Civils de Beaune
juliette.mezzavilla@ch-beaune.fr - +33(0)3 80 24 45 30

SOTHEBY’S
Sophie Dufresne - Directrice presse & communication - Sotheby’s
sophie.dufresne@sothebys.com - +33(0)1 53 05 53 66
Claire Jehl - Attachée de presse & communication - Sotheby’s
claire.jehl@sothebys.com - + 33 (0)1 53 05 52 32